President’s Message May-Jun 2006

It is my great honor to announce the inaugural presentation of the Eisenhower Medical Center Spirit of Giving award, designed to honor individuals whose commitment to Eisenhower has had an indelible impact on supporting all that we do. Leonore Annenberg, wife of the late Honorable Walter H. Annenberg, is the first recipient of this award and we are thrilled to recognize her engaging enthusiasm, ongoing commitment and unparalleled generosity.

We presented this award on March 22, at our 35th Anniversary Gala Reaching for the Stars, a beautiful and exciting celebration of Campaign Eisenhower and Eisenhower Medical Center. More than 800 people came together to celebrate reaching the $200 million milestone of the first phase of Campaign Eisenhower, as well as 35 years of Eisenhower Medical Center’s excellence in health care. The evening highlights shine in our cover story, “Oh, Starry Night!”

It is also my pleasure to announce a first in corporate philanthropy in the Coachella Valley. On March 17, developer Peter Solomon announced the largest gift ever given to Eisenhower from a business — a two million dollar contribution. I applaud Mr. Solomon’s vision, recognition of Eisenhower Medical Center and exceptional generosity.

In this issue’s “Feature” stories, we highlight the phenomenal successes of two of Eisenhower’s top neurosurgeons — Shahin Etebar, MD, Board Certified Neurosurgeon and Chief of Neurosurgery, and Farhad Limonadi, MD, Board Certified Neurosurgeon. The lives of Charlene Hankal and Carmelita Sese were changed dramatically because of the skills of these two surgeons. Charlene Hankal lives without pain in her leg and in her back, and without a wheelchair; and, Carmelita Sese lives without pain, dizziness and nausea, and without a brain tumor.

In Healthy Living’s “Program Spotlight,” we feature a vitally important accessory designed to save your life. When an emergency occurs, Eisenhower’s Vial of Life speaks for you…when you cannot. A magnetized plastic sleeve that attaches to the refrigerator, the Vial of Life holds critical information about each family member’s medications, allergies and medical history.With just a phone call to our Indian Wells Center for Healthy Living at Eisenhower, we will be happy to send you a Vial of Life.

As always, if there is anything you would like us to cover in Healthy Living, your magazine, let us know.